I get a lot of positive feedback from DMV artists about what I do for the DMV. One of the comments I get the most, is that they appreciate how I stay all night ’til the very end when I go out to watch them at showcases. That comment amazes me, and has me wondering why exactly people don’t stay all night to watch everyone.

My reason for staying is simple: RESPECT. Sure I can leave after the artists I know really well have performed, but I want to show respect for the new cats making a name for themselves. I don’t want to miss out on getting exposed to some hot new talent.

To touch on respect some more, I do find it a bit disrespectful when a artist peforms and they bounce as soon as they’re done. It’s disrespectful to all the artists that watched you perform, because you can’t give the same respect to them and stick around to watch them. Show them that same respect they have just showed you. And I also find it selfish. You’re making it seem like it’s all about you. The “I came, I saw, I conquered” mentality is not cool. Show respect to the others that watched you do your thing. Watch them do their thing. Stick around and network with them. By leaving you may be missing out on an artist you can make big connections with.

Of course, I hear a lot of what I say are “excuses” of why they leave. Folks say they have to work in the morning. Understandable. However, you must realize by getting involved in this music business, you’re getting into some long days and nights. I take the same mentality as Diddy when it comes to this music business: SLEEP IS NOT AN OPTION. If this music is your grind, your life, your hustle, your passion, then there are going to be those days when you have a lot going on in order to balance the music life and the work life for those working the 9-5. I have plenty of stories of me working 2 jobs in one day, hitting up artist showcases, then having to be back to work early in the morning. But I realize that’s the life I chose when I decided to get into music. I don’t complain, I take it like a soldier and keep it moving while sipping on some Vitamin Water Energy. lol

So DMV and everyone else, why don’t artists stay to watch everyone else? And does anyone else share my sentiments of it being a form of disrespect?

19 Comments

1. It aint always gotta be up to the artist to bring a crowd. As a nigga who actually has brung crowds through to shit sometimes, and have showed up early to do so, the crowd I bring sometimes dont wanna stay because NO ONE ELSE IS THERE. No ladies, no nothing. They are bored. Artists make art, PROMOTERS ARE SUPPOSED TO PROMOTE, and part of that promotion, is making sure they throw a good event that makes people want to come back instead of them yawning they ass off. ---Bottom line, it aint always up to us to fill the club--- A lot of promoters just don't put shit together with a good format, or create a fun environment.

2. Whoever I came with, Imma leave with 90% of the time.

3. This is a very competitive game. It aint up to me to help my competition with anything other than inspiration. If you need work, you need work. I say that being someone who constantly wants to improve my craft, and have had bad nights performing. I aint mad at the crowd, Im mad at myself. But I aint petty, If you rock, I'll probably rock with you, unless I just dislike you.

But we aint all friends. This aint we are the world. We are in competition with each other, and that's the reality of it.

Damn...I think Mo Betta pretty much summed it up damn near 100%. It ain't too much else I can think to say after that...you know me being sober & all.

lmao@

"you get there at 10:30/11pm and your out by 12:30/1am it's empty and the club has been open since 9:30 and don't close until 2am..it aint that the show is over booked we think we are superstars and we arrive late..then wanna go right on stage..that's b.s you and the artist next to you are both independent unsigned artist."

Everyone says there are too many performers on this showcase an at these open mics, right? ok do you know why tho? end of the day everything is a business and for the venue, security, and flyers, an all that went into the night to be paid for you need a semi-decent crowd..and sense half of us don't bring a crowd, have a fanbase or even invite all these neighborhood friends that we brag bout knowing...its gonna have to be packed with artist.

Which leads to why we don't stay, cause we've seen these same artist perform the same songs week in and week out, however our unsupportive selves wont come to watch the new people when they are on the flyers, cause we aint come to be supportive we came to show face like this is high school we want people to see us. Your whole intent was to leave 2 acts after you performed then you wonder why you get no love in return. Yeah some aren't as good as others but how do you help? do you pull 'em aside and give any advice?

Rides are excuses to i've gone with people and left with someone else numerous times, you know who lives near you, cordinate with them before you even get to the club. An I have to go to work in the morning? so what you ain't the only one...95% of us work the people that do trap for a living dont even rap bout it...open mic crowds average 2- 2/12 hours you get there at 10:30/11pm and your out by 12:30/1am it's empty and the club has been open since 9:30 and don't close until 2am..it aint that the show is over booked we think we are superstars and we arrive late..then wanna go right on stage..that's b.s you and the artist next to you are both independent unsigned artist.

I could go on for days but im gonna stop now. It's simply an old cliche' that covers this tho.

When you're a local artist out here grinding and trying to put your name and sound out there and you see other artists roll out after they've performed then you're not encouraged to stay. I've been to a show where the "main act" performed, had all the crowd with them and then once they finished the crowd and the performers rolled out. The next act was left to perform infront of people he performs in front of all the time.

Now I agree that the setting makes this very difficult to do. Standing after watching 10 acts is not at the top of most peoples list. I agree with having DJ's mix in local, independent artists with the mainstream artists. It keeps everyone's attention and it keeps the party moving.

The Chain of Command has to start somewhere. Why not with the DJ's.?.?.?

Enoch, that was an excellent point. A lot of promoters around here don't know how to lineup a good show, and make it entertaining so people want to stay all night, and actually want to show up in the first place.

It IS frustrating, when you waiting and staying around the whole night (to perform damn near last) and the promoter or DJ is letting the artists before you "Keep going", or "Get One More", and then wants to rush you off the stage. There's a lot of bullshit behind why we do this, or why we leave when we ACTUALLY get to get onstage early (take it from me, me being one of the ones who ends up going close to last, when NOBODY is there9).

Honestly, as a dude who has showed BIG love and hardly EVER had it returned: FUCK Love, I'll show it to who I CHOOSE to show it to, and don't expect nothing in return for it, because I didn't show it to get something ANYWAY. So it aint no disappointments.

If DRAUS co-signs you as an artist, it aint because you my friend, or gave me a compliment. I do it because I like your work.

But yeah, for real, fuck love. I been out here for years staying til the end of shows, and doing people favors and all sorts of stuff, and no one evens shouts DRAUS out unless I walk in the room.

If I like you as an artist, I will show you love, otherwise I owe you nothing cuz there aint no love out here. Harsh reality, but even the media is all about a dollar, or who you are in the streets. So to hell with all the fake love. No love is better than fake love.

Frist and Foremost! Give thanks to YOU DJ HEAT!!! i have seen you at a couple events! and you shooooow mad love to the Wack and Dope Cats...

Now this type of Convo has been talked about for a very long time...I like to stay around and try and network with artists and show some respect while he or she is performing...I sometimes stay till the end or come early enuff to network....Most of the time i am on the Train...and end up catching the last Train home and the Last Bus...Then gotta be at the PLANATION at 830am...(no excuse) THis is a JOB (Hiphop)

DMV must learn the Rules of Respect in the Culture of Hiphop or anyother type of Music. Yes we have amazming Talent here,but some wack promoters who dont know how to get a Dope Line up!!!

Next....Artist are NOT mindful of the time he or she has to perform on Stage...So many people roll out for many different reasons...2 many on the bill,artist have no concept of his/her time on stage (folks get antsy),trains and buses...

Another THING!!!Food for Thought!!

MOST ARTIST THAT's on the BILL DONT EVEN FUCKING PROMOTE!!!! (SMH) so that why the lack of People (ie) Women...

I'm quite guilty of this, but it's beyond my power. If it was up to me, I'd stay for the whole show, because everybody knows I love my DMV hip-hop, man. But being that I usually ride with someone else who isn't in this industry, when I tell them we need to stay after I perform, they don't want to hear that shit. So I pretty much have to leave. I remember 20 Bello called me on it at the Island Cafe, put me on the spot and shit. I understood his reason for doing it and respected it, so I told my mans we HAD to stay for that one, and we stayed a little longer than usual. But still, that nigga was mad when he woke up late for work the next day over my shit. So you know...it's a rough situation for me. But when I get more people actually in this industry to ride with, or get my new whip (the old one is crashed), then I'll be around longer.

This has pros and cons. Unless I have class or a trip the next day, I stay the whole event. You never know who you can see or what ill cat will perform so you can link up with them in the future. I've performed almost 2am in the morning but doing that and killing it with 10 people got me propelled to do when it was pack cause the people running it wanted others to see it. If you have things to do, it's understandable you roll out, but getting out there is about NETWORKING and rolling out is not helping you out at all.

You basically hit the nail on the head! Other artist don't stay because the only reason they came was to perform. Not to show Love to the event. They are not concerned about what other artists are doing because they are focused on themselves and their talent (if they have any lol) They feel like after they have perfomed, what's left?

I def agree about artists missing out on networking opps when they leave after their set. I found a couple producers like that @ Big Tune!

People just aren't spreading enough Love nowadays. They come alone, leave alone and seem to be on the road alone, when if they just extend a lil love... the amount of Love they can get back is infinite! :)

I stamp erything you sayin Heat!!..We be havin dat talk down the Legends young "No Rap and Roll Niggas" joe..I think the DMV has more talent than a lot of ureas who've already made it. Problem is that erybody out here thinks they are the "G.O.A.T." in the DMV. And its usually the ones who have limited talent but are mad because nobody wants to put them on ya dig?!?! They leave shows early, don't network, put on a half ass show, don't applaud other artists or buy their shyt!! And I aint braggin but me personally I got at least 1 mixtape/album from erybody who's puttin on for us ya know...And me and Benji tryna give artists an outlet with the Hide Ur Beats series where we don't just put yo u on a mixtape, we gon come show u love if we know you performin..whether its an open mic or a full blown showcase it don't matter. I aint gon go on too much longer but the bottom line is that not only do you need to support HOME, but you need to know your competition out here joe!! You might think you da illest youngin alive, but there's always room for improvement and you can learn what to do and what not to do by stayin around for THE WHOLE SHOW, and the biggest word of all..NETWORK, you gotta do it..So as its said in at the Legend ery Tuesday.."NO RAP AND ROLL ASS NIGGAZ" JOE

and sorry SOMETIMES it is a form of disrespect, and sometimes, they just aint feeling you. It has happened to me, and I aint mad, but I don't really got no love for folks who have done that for me, so I will DAMN sure walk away when they get onstage. Especially after I have been staring at a stage all night and showing them love.

I can think of a few reasons people don't stick around. Think about a real party, or a real club scene. Do you just stand in one place and stare in one direction? That shyt aint fun. Who really wants to stare at a stage all night? THEN, the promoters will book a million acts in one night, and really who wants to sit through that in a club where there are NO WOMEN except the ones who came with the artist who's onstage now (that more than likely will leave as soon as he gets offstage because he got all these impatient females with him).

I personally feel like I don't have to perform in clubs, THE DJ CAN JUST PLAY MY MUSIC WHILE PEOPLE ARE PARTYING. That way, you can REALLY see what people think about it. Why does no one throw club events where they spin locals along side with majors?